Largemouth
Bass.........14-20"
Spawning: From mid-April to mid-June, they construct nests, near
shore, in water from 1-15 feet deep. They prefer silt-free sandy or gravelly
bottoms, but they will use any type of bottom.
Food: Adults eat crayfish, frogs, large insects, and fishes.
Adult size: Normally 12-15 inches and weigh 1-3 pounds, but can reach over
25 inches and 13 pounds.
Identification: The back part of the jaw extends beyond the back border of the
eye when the mouth is closed. A dark lateral band extends from head
to tail.
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Yellow
Perch.........7-11"
Spawning: Occurs from mid-April to early May. Eggs are deposited in adhesive
bands over vegetation or on the bottom.
Food: Adult aquatic insects and larvae, and small fishes
Adult size: Normally 5-12 inches and weigh 1/4 - 1 pound; can exceed 2
pounds
Identification: Sides are golden yellow to brassy green with 6 to 8 broad, dark
vertical bands and a white to yellow belly. Many small teeth, but no
large canines.
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Purebred
Bluegill.........6-9"
Spawning: Peak spawning in Ohio occurs in mid-May to mid-June, when water
temperatures are 65-70 degrees. Nests are usually in water 1-4 feet
deep on sand or gravel bottom, or on other bottom substrates, even in
heavily vegetated area.
Food: Insects, insect larvae, small fish, fish eggs, and plant materials
Adult size: Normally 6-10 inches, depending on habitat and population
Identification: A deep slab-sided fish with a small mouth and a long
pectoral fin. Colors vary, however the ear flap is always black and
bluegills often have a black blotch near the end of the soft dorsal fin.
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Hybrid
Bluegill.........6-9"
Cross between male bluegill and female green sunfish, produces hybrid
vigor, quicker growth, lower reproductivity, very aggressive. Feeds
on insect larvae and commercial feed. |
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Red
Ear..................6-11"
Spawning: Usually during mid-May through June when water
temperatures are 65-75 degrees. Preferred spawning locations
are 1-4 feet of water with sand or gravel bottom, or on any
other bottom substrates and in deeper water.
Food: Snails and other mollusks, crayfish, insects and insect
larvae, small fish. Their habit of eating snails led to
the name "shellcracker."
Adult Size: Normally 9-11 inches
Identification: A deep slab-sided fish similar to the bluegill
except the eat flap is black with a red or orange margin; black
blotch at the base of the dorsal fin is absent.
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Fathead
Minnows...........2-4"
Provides a forage fish to supplement predator growth. May
reproduce-but is normally restocked semi-annually to boost predator
growth.
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Channel
Catfish...........14-24"
Spawning: Begins when water temperatures reach the mid-70s. Nests are
secluded in natural cavities, banks, and burrows.
Food: Insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks, and small fish
Adult Size: Most range from 12-14 inches. Can reach 10 pounds or more,
especially in large river systems and productive lakes.
Identification: Channel catfish are scaleless and have slender bodies, deeply
forked tails, barbels around the mouth, and curved anal fins with
24-30 rays. Color varies, but is generally bluish-silver on the
upper half of the body and silver to white on the lower half.
Most young fish have spots on the body. They have sharp spines in
the dorsal and pectoral fins.
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Crappie................8-12"
Spawning: Normally during May and June. Nests in and around & brush, rocks,
or vegetation in water 1-5 feet deep.
Food: Young crappies feed on zooplankton and larval insects during their
first year of life; as adults they switch to a diet of small fish.
Adult Size: Usually 6-12 inches, but can reach lengths of up to 18 inches
and weigh over 3 pounds.
Identification: Olive or brownish-green back with silvery white sides.
Back and sides have 5-10 dusky or black vertical bands. Spiny dorsal
fin, anal fin, and tail contain a combination of dark spots and bands.
Dorsal fin typically contains 5-6 spines.
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Hybrid
Striped Bass.....18-24"
Spawning: Does not occur naturally.
Food: Larvae insects, worms, and small fish
Adult Size: Normally 12-22 inches and weigh 1-5 pounds, but may grow to 16
pounds in Ohio
Identification: A silver, deep-bodied fish, similar to white bass.
Stripes along sides and back are distinct, usually broken, with
several extending to the tail. Teeth on the base of the tongue are
arranged in 2 parallel patches.
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Walleye...............12-18"
Spawning: Walleyes spawn throughout April when water temperature is 40-50
degrees. Eggs are scattered over gravel or reef areas or in the
riffle areas of tributary streams.
Food: Walleye feed mostly on emerald shiners, gizzard shad, alewifes, and
rainbow smelt.
Adult Size: Normally 14-22 inches and weigh 2-4 pounds. May reach 36
inches and weigh over 16 pounds.
Identification: Has a long slender body with a yellow-olive and bluish-brassy
overcast on the sides; the belly is milky white. It has a large
clouded eye and a dark blotch on the webbing between the last three spines
of the first dorsal fin. Also has numerous sharp teeth.
Similar in appearance to a sauger or saugeye.
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Triploid
White Amur........18-36"
White Amur (grass carp) are members of the minnow family. White Amur
are of primary interest in the U.S. to control aquatic vegetation,
especially where it is desirable to avoid the use of chemical herbicides.
Leafy, rooted aquatic plants, such as ponweed and coontail, are the
preferred food of the white amur. Lacking these, they will consume
floating duckweed, green algae, and even cattails. To accommodate an
increasing demand for white amur, yet to avoid the possibility of their
becoming established in systems where they are not wanted, a sterile
triploid form was developed. This triploid form differs from the
natural diploid form in having an extra set of chromosomes in each cell.
Although this condition prevents them from reproducing, it does not
otherwise affect their vitality. Thus, many states have legalized
the sale and use of triploid white amur for vegetation control, while
prohibiting the sale of use of diploid white amur. |
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Koi........................16-20"
Living jewels. Very colorful: orange, blue, yellow, gold, red, white, black.
Primarily vegetarians. These fish will turn into your favorite pond
pets. |
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Bullfrog
Tadpoles
Will turn into frogs within one year - provide excellent insect
control, leave a small area of grass grow next to your pond to provide
cover for them. |
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